Kandahar, 6 January 2004 (RFE/RL) -- A bomb blast in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar has killed at least 10 people and wounded at least 15. Police said eight of the killed were children.

Witnesses said the blast on a residential street occurred in the same location as a smaller explosion minutes earlier, which drew a crowd of people to the scene.

Officials said police arrested one suspect who tried to flee. Police and soldiers were reportedly searching for other possible hidden explosives.

Kandahar officials reported a separate attack late yesterday, in which assailants opened fire and threw a grenade at the offices of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. No injuries were reported.

In Zabul Province, a militia commander, Shah Halam Khan, was killed in a gunfight between police and guards loyal to the provincial governor. Two of Halam Khan's soldiers were also killed in the fighting.